The FR-B8 is Onkyo’s flagship Hi-MD bookshelf system from early 2005. Sold exclusively in Japan with piano-black or paint-white speakers as the X-B8 (B) and X-B8 (W) respectively, and full integration with other Onkyo RI-compatible components. A cost reduced version, the FR-B7 was also available.

Content adapted from: Onkyo FR-B8 Press Release Follow up announcement Final Press Release

minidisc.org phileweb.com Additional information from Onkyo’s mini-site (Web Archive link): http://www.jp.onkyo.com/more_emotion/frb/index.htm

The FR-B8 is, sadly, not compatible with CD Text, making it less than ideal for easy CD dubbing. It is capable of high-speed CD to MD dubbing, however. It is, however, a highly capable and beautiful little machine, if you can get your hands on one.

This unit appears to share components with many of Onkyo’s Hi-MD devices from 2004-2006, including its late-2005, slightly more premium siblings the FR-N7 and FR-N9, and the DVD/MD combo units FR-UN9 and FR-UN7, so spare parts appear to be available in reasonable number.

Onkyo CR-B8 User Manual Eng (close enough?)